June 15 Crossing America

Bardstown, KY – Hodgenville, KY Distance 42 miles

Slept in 5:44 but made up for it by packing up quickly went back down to the McDonalds for a Steak egg and cheese bagel and orange juice.  Stopped back at camp before heading out as there is lots of thundering going on.  Stopped at the park check-in station for a bag of ice and the ranger warned me there were severe storms predicted for most of the day.  Great!  Waited until 7:20 and decided to go ahead and start today’s ride in hopes I could get down the road a ways before any rain.  Right, in my imagination as I didn’t make it a mile before the sky opened up with a deluge of freezing rain, lightning all around but that’s not all, right next to the campground was a bourbon distillery and 18 wheelers must have been delivering the daily sour mash or whatever is used to make the stuff.  This as most of the time was a two lane road with no shoulder.  My glasses were already steaming over but the spray from the 18 wheelers did them in for being useful to see through so
ditched them.  Next a rather long downhill to negotiate with the heavy traffic, got about a half mile down the hill when I realized my brakes were too wet to slow me down much.  Luck being on my side I saw a paved driveway with an uphill grade, used it as a runaway bike ramp to get myself stopped.  I told myself this is crazy and I’m not about to become another biker fatality on the Tran-Am.  Thus I turned around and went back to the
campground.  Upon arriving at the campground everyone was gone except Pepper and Bridget.  Pepper moved my bike from beside my mini-van.  He didn’t see me in the
car.  I lowered the window and told him I’d just load my bike up as I’m not riding in this weather.  Pepper politely but firmly advised me he really couldn’t allow me to do that as he had 15 other riders who would then want to ride in a van instead of riding their bike.  He further added, “anybody can ride a bike across America in nice weather the real reward and challenge is to do it in any and all weather conditions”.  This pep talk didn’t convince me to change my mind; I wasn’t going to risk riding in foul weather.  At this point Pepper told me the other riders went either to the golf course pro shop or to McDonald’s to
sit out the worst of the storm.  I agreed to go to McDonalds and wait but if the weather stayed nasty then I was not riding.  Pepper said I had him in a difficult spot as my mini-van is being used.  I shrugged in agreement.

Finally at noon the weather broke and I would ride.  We all left as a group but within two miles we were heading up a two mile hill by the time I chugged up the hill everyone had left me in their dust.  I feel like the “Little Engine that Could” as I literally do crawl up the hills doing my usual 3-4 mph but I get there.  The sweep riders today were Amanda and George and I must commend them for hanging back and letting me go my slow pace.  Had they pressed me to ride faster, I would have quickly told them I’m done call Bridget to pick me up as I was not in the mood to be pushed.  This is a lesson all the crew needs to learn; don’t push a rider past his/her ability.

Fortunately today was short mileage which helped but that said it still had some pretty
good hills to climb including a couple two milers.  The weather held off but as I sit here
writing this the lightning is beginning and the prediction is for severe storms tonight.  We’re staying in a city park in Hodgenville under a pavilion for some protection.  The parks director came by and informed us he’d keep watch on the weather and if it got real bad he’d let us in the gym for the night.  I am learning most everywhere we’ve been staying has been “Free” to the group.  I’m learning quite a bit about this touring thing and the more I learn the more confidence I have I can do it solo.  Stage 2 and 3 should be much easier or more to my pace, condition and vision of what my adventure should be.  It isn’t working my ass off all day pedaling a bike to get from point A to B with eyes glued to the pavement in front of me, not getting to meet folks in route or even stop to take pictures and no time to deviate from the set agenda.  This is definitely not my style.

Tomorrow we were told the ride distance would be about 55 miles which is more to what I
think is reasonable.  However, Mark checking our map calculated we’d be doing closer to 75 miles.  We’ll see which is right.

I wish I could report the first stage of my adventure is all great and exceeds my wildest imagination of what a cross country adventure would be like but it’s been a lot of gut grunting hard work, not really seeing the beauty which surrounds me and meeting folks in different areas.  The group I’m traveling with has a bunch of great folks and I’m pleased to say one all are my friend and I’m the better for meeting them.  May a new day bring a new
beginning to this stage of my adventure?

The Old Guy is going to bed.  Goodnight and God Bless!

Follow